Freezing Luky

You'd think that we would never want to return to freezing temperatures but we couldn't help ourselves when we heard of Ice World. A warehouse with temps at 10 degrees F. filled with ice sculptures and slides. We took Luky, our driver, in to show him what weather at home can be like. I never saw some one who looked like they were in such pain! We found some snow and I placed it in his hand, he screamed! Whipping down the luge like slides brought a smile to his face though. Later he said that was the first time he had ever been so cold. Heck, 10 degrees is a warm day for a Wisconsin winter!
Then we checked out the Gotheborg, a replica of a tall ship from Sweden that used to sail the spice trade here to Jakarta. It was thrilling to see other tall blond people, I wanted to hug them. Is Claire as tall as me? Heavens, when did that happen?

We ended our weekend in Garut at a traditional Ram Fight. Men from the region bring their prized rams to town on Sunday mornings. The event starts with a small group of musicians playing drums, gong and a clarinet like instrument. Then two rams are brought out. The competition is based on style. Points are given for how far back the ram steps before charging, for how squarely it hits and how well it takes the hit. The area is filled with mostly men who wager on the best while their children run around playing and teasing each other.

Garut is known for the volcanoes in the area. Don't worry, although active none were dangerous. We climbed Mt. Papandawan at 6am on Father's Day morning. The higher we climbed the stronger the sulfer smell. With each step the steam holes and crystalizing sulfur grew more abundant. We were able to literally stand next to huge plumes of steam and touch streams of boiling water. Although quiet now, the last eruption took place in 2002. We threw lava rocks into the new lake formed from that eruption. It's not every Father's Day you get to spend on top of a volcano.

We escaped Jakarta and went to the mountain area of West Java over the weekend. We met up with Iwan, a fabulous guide, who took us on a bamboo boat to a Hindu temple, and into a tiny shrimp cracker factory where we got to taste freshly made crackers. Then he invited us to his house for coffee in which his 70 yr. old mother served us out of coconut shells.

Go Team! or Pergi Regu!

As we have traveled around the world I have always wanted to go to a soccer game in another country. You know how you see them on TV and the fans are all singing throughout the whole game? Well last night we went to watch one of best teams in town, the Jakarta Persija play. Imagine about 10,000 fans mostly 9-15 yr. old boys all dressed in the team colors of orange and black. Then place them on top of any moving vehicle that is heading towards the stadium. In side the stadium a line of drums fill the front row seats and the drummers keep up a constant beat through out the game. A designated cheer leaders climb up on the security fence surrounding the field and turns back towards the crowd, leading raucous cheers and songs all through the game. If you are from Wisconsin, imagine the 5th quarter at a Badger game, only all night long.
To the delight of the locals, we bought team hats and scarves. Crowds of kids posed and high 5'd us when we took out the camera to record the frenzy. On the streets out of the stadium more cars and buses filled up with kids climbing on top for a ride home. Being the only car without outside riders I asked Luky, our driver, if we should take on a few? He quickly responded NO! Party Pooper.

Blessings from Bali

We went back to Bali last week but this time stayed in Sanur, a quiet but funky beach town and then Ubud, an artsy mountainside town surrounded by rice paddies. Enjoyed them both and had a great time celebrating Kathy's 26th birthday ("Still young!" all the Balinese claimed when asked her age) We were blessed by Hindu priests at Tanah Lot, a temple on an island that can only be reached at low tide. The Balinese believe rice to be holy, so after putting holy water on your forehead, they press a few grains of rice on you and say a blessing.
Our hotel in Sanur was very Balinese in decor, we felt like royalty lazing around the pool
Our hotel in Ubud was literally at the end of a cow path in the middle of a rice paddy. We learned how to take a short cut into town and fell in love with our remote location.

Rummy Doesn't Call

So now I'm miffed. First Condi Rice blows through town without so much as a "howdy". I attributed this slight to her tight schedule and the fact that we were still fairly new in town, and she wanted to wait until we had unpacked the good china. But now, ho-ho, Donald Rumsfeld also comes through on a charm tour (first person I think of when I want to win friends and influence people), and does he pay a visit? NO! I am only comforted by the fact that by good friend Juwono Sudarsono took him to task for not calling.

The famous chocolate martini

You may have heard that our niece Kathy and her friend Jo has arrived. They bring with them a new perspective on exploring Indo (think Rough Guide) and that bugged eyed amazement we had when we first arrived. Having been here for almost 6 months now we are jaded so it is fun to see it with new eyes. My friend Missy (left) introduced me to the chocolate martinis at the absolutely define Hotel Dharmawangsa (try saying that after a few martinis). Her friend, Jennifer, (center) is visiting as well so Missy and I introduced Kathy and Jennifer to the chocolate martini. Let's just say it was a very lonnngggg afternoon, I even got to mix them after awhile. Thank goodness for drivers. Check Derek's blog for his wild night out with Kathy and Jo, as you can see he has much more fun then being out on the town with mom and dad. The three of them left for Bali three days ago. We join them tomorrow for one last visit to the Islands of the Gods as well as to celebrate Kathy's birthday. More when we return.....